Name: The Funkiest Man - The Stax Funk Sessions 1967-1975
Brand: Rufus Thomas

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SX2135

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-02-24

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

029667913515

Total Cap

Black LP

Artist

Rufus Thomas

Genre GB

Funk / Soul

Label GB

Stax

Stax Records, originally known as Satellite, is a legendary music label that was founded in 1959 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. The name Stax was derived from the first two letters of their last names. Known for its association with Southern soul music, Stax Records became home to numerous talented artists who achieved great success during the 1960s and beyond. Some of these iconic artists include Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Booker T & The MG's, Mable John, Sam & Dave, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Bar-Kays, and Otis Redding.

Following the tragic death of Otis Redding in 1967, Stax Records entered a new era with hitmakers like Isaac Hayes, Staples Singers, Soul Children, The Emotions,
Rance Allen Group,
Shirley Brown,
Luther Ingram,
and The Dramatics. In 1968,
Paramount Pictures Corporation acquired the company but later sold it back to Jim Stewart and Al Bell in 1970. Despite facing financial troubles and eventually going bankrupt in 1975,
Fantasy Inc.
acquired the masters and assets of Stax at an auction in June 1977.

In 2008,
Concord Music Group revived Stax as an active label with new artist signings such as Jill Scott,
Leela James,
Angie Stone,
and Nikka Costa.
Today,

Stax continues to be a respected label

Rufus Thomas was a rhythm & blues and soul singer and songwriter, born on March 26, 1917 in Cayce, Mississippi. He enjoyed his biggest successes while signed to the Stax label during the 1960s and early 1970s. His best known song is probably "Walking The Dog" (1963), later covered by artists such as The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.
Rufus Thomas is also known as the father of Carla Thomas, Vaneese Thomas, and Marvell Thomas. His unique style and contributions to the music industry have influenced many artists in the genre.
Similar artists to Rufus Thomas include Carla Thomas, The Astors, William Bell, The Mar-Keys, The Mad Lads, Barbara Stephens, Eddie Floyd, Mable John, Barbara &amp; The Browns,
Ruby Johnson,
Johnnie Taylor,
Sam &amp; Dave,
Rufus &amp; Carla,
Booker T. &amp; the M.G.'s,
David Porter,
The Soul Children,
The Staple Singers,
Ollie &amp; The Nightingales,
Mel &amp; Tim,and Jean Knight.

Think about music and Memphis - who do you think of first? Rock'n'roll? Gotta be Elvis, of course. Deep Soul? Messrs Carr and Redding surely have that market cornered. Country Music? Hard to get beyond Charlie Rich, really. But when it comes to funk, few have ever put the beat over with more conviction than the late, undeniably great Rufus Thomas. "The Godfather Of Memphis Funk" - that's what the strap line on the back of this album says, and that's just about right, too.

We still can't believe he's gone, you know. It really did feel like "The World's Oldest Teenager" had a shot at becoming "The World's First Hundred-Year-Old Teenager". After all, Rufus was still out there, putting the 'fun' in funk, when he was in his mid-80s, and doing the Funky Chicken at an age when doing the Times crossword would be the day's major exertion for most of us. As an entertainer, the man had precious few equals. And as a purveyor of undiluted late 60s/early 70s Memphis funk, he had even fewer. Don't believe me? Then take a listen to this.

The Funkiest Man is Ace's affectionate tribute to one of the true legends of Memphis Soul, and a man whose Stax career ran for over a decade and a half, from the label's earliest days to its closing weeks. It's not a "Singles As And Bs", nor is it a "Best Of" - other Ace/Stax releases have already taken care of business in those departments. What it is, though, is a full-on farrago of funk, with Rufus and a batch of the best musicians Memphis ever produced - I'm talking Bar-Kays, MGs, Isaac Hayes Movement and Memphis Horns here, people! - working up a full head of dancefloor steam on 18 funky sides that, beat for beat, are a match for anything and everything that others from the Golden Age Of Funk could offer in retaliation, James Brown included.

OK, so the lyrics and tunes ain't necessarily going to give Bacharach and David any serious competition in the 'works of art' department. That wasn't what Rufus was about, though, and he'd doubtless be the first to point this out, were he still with us today. But they are what they are, and what they are above all is funky beyond belief.

What made Rufus Thomas one of the undisputed dancefloor kings of his time was his ability to keep things simple and to the point, and to let the funk do the talking. Here the funk is talking so loud it's almost screaming. Most of you will need no introduction to rampant "Yellow Stax" club classics like Push And Pull, Breakdown and Itch And Scratch, not to mention some of Rufus' slightly earlier floorfillers like Sophisticated Sissy and Funky Mississippi. And it won't take you long to grow to know and love the quintet of tracks that were originally destined to be part of Rufus' 1975 Stax album that got shelved when the company went under in that same year. "I ain't getting older, I'm getting better" barks Rufus over the relentless, spartan funk of one of them, I'm Getting Better. Quite so - and much the same can be said for the contents of this album.

Rufus Thomas. No longer the "Funkiest Man Alive", that's true. But forever The Funkiest Man as far as Memphis music is concerned. You want proof? Here's your proof...

The Funkiest Man - The Stax Funk Sessions 1967-1975

Music GB